Utility Archives

Illinois utility expands drone inspection program with Skydio Dock

Ishveena Singh - Mar. 3rd 2023 8:11 am PT @IshveenaSingh

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Electric utility ComEd says it is expanding its drone program to allow pilots to operate inspection drones remotely, without being present on site. The utility has secured all the necessary waivers required from the FAA to conduct operations in which the drone flies beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of the operator. And it is currently training pilots to automate drone flights using the Skydio Dock docking and recharging station.

NYPA, Skydio receive FAA waiver for BVLOS drone inspections

Bruce Crumley - Feb. 17th 2023 2:07 am PT @BDroneDJ

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Skydio Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)Drone Inspections Utility

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The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has taken another step in its increasing use of drones as tools in inspecting and managing its vast infrastructure by obtaining a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waver for beyond visual line of sight flights (BVLOS) at its Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project, in partnership with Skydio.

Autonomous drones to remotely monitor electric power station in Canada

Ishveena Singh - Jan. 25th 2023 6:00 am PT @IshveenaSingh

Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)Drone Inspections Transport Canada Percepto Utility

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Transport Canada has given its approval to Ontario Power Generation to operate inspection drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), without an onsite visual observer, at McConnell Lake Control Dam. Percepto, whose drone-in-a-box solution will make this feat possible, points out this is the first time regulators are allowing autonomous drone operations in Canada.

Research collab makes high-altitude drone flights possible for American Water

Ishveena Singh - Jan. 24th 2023 11:00 am PT @IshveenaSingh

Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)Drone Inspections Utility American Water

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Update, January 27, 2023: American Water has clarified that advanced drone flights are being made possible courtesy of its partnership with the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), an New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) corporation which holds an FAA Part 91 Certificate of Authorization.

The earlier report from American Water follows…

Southern Company, MSU’s joint research on drones moves forward

Ishveena Singh - Dec. 16th 2022 2:35 am PT @IshveenaSingh

Drone research Drone Inspections Utility

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Utility provider Southern Company says it has reached a new milestone on a joint research project with Mississippi State University (MSU). The duo is finding ways for the energy provider to safely expand the use of drones to map critical infrastructure, assess weather-related damage, and conduct routine utility inspections.

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NYPA adds AI to drone inspection and analysis of power lines

Bruce Crumley - Nov. 23rd 2022 1:55 am PT @BDroneDJ

Drone Inspections Artificial Intelligence (AI)New York Utility

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Already accustomed to using drones to inspect its enormous 1,400 circuit miles of transmission infrastructure, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) says it’s now turning to artificial intelligence (AI) analytics to both speed up and improve detection of weak points requiring repair, and take action to prevent costly outages.